Chapter 275: Brother Shan is Confused

The next morning.

Li Ya was eating a fried dough stick while reading the newspaper.

The front-page headlines were all about Lu Qiao.

Articles full of puffery about his determination to fight corruption and the like.

Clearly, these hack reporters had received plenty of money; they would praise whoever paid them.

He had originally intended to smear Lu Qiao.

Now, things had turned out well for him; he had become a pioneer who dared to turn the blade inward and scrape the poison from his bones.

Damn it!

Just looking at Lu Qiao's greedy face made Li Ya feel sick.

A petty man!

A hypocrite!

He fiercely crumpled the newspaper into a ball and smashed it onto the floor.

Returning to the small residence.

Hong Zhiyou was sitting at the doorway basking in the sun.

He had originally wanted to practice his skills; he hadn't practiced for a while and was almost letting them go to waste.

On second thought, this skill was a trump card of his, so it was better not to let Li Ya know about it.

So he changed his plan to just basking in the sun and loosening his muscles and bones.

"Up so early? I thought a playboy like you would usually sleep until the sun was high in the sky when there was no official business," Li Ya said as he walked in.

"That's because there are no flowers to play with.

"If there were, let alone the sun being high, I could sleep until noon," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Take a look at today's paper."

Li Ya took the crumpled newspaper he had picked up out of his pocket and handed it to Hong Zhiyou.

"Old Lu is showing off; that move of executing on the spot was quite something," Hong Zhiyou said after unfolding it and taking a glance.

This was within his expectations.

He had let Xie Ruo tip off Lu Qiao.

With Lu Qiao's brain, it was no surprise he could turn the tables.

Hong Zhiyou's mission in Beiping this time was very simple.

To sit and watch the fight between Lu Qiao and Li Ya.

He wanted Lu Qiao to slink back to Jingling in disgrace.

And he also wanted Li Ya to suffer a setback, unable to stand out before Jianfeng, and to be given no chance to gain any momentum.

He also had to make Li Ya suffer a setback, ensuring he could not stand out before Jianfeng, and giving him no opportunity to gain any momentum.

"It was supposed to be a sure thing.

"I didn't expect Lu Qiao to pull a Nian Gengyao move, acting first and reporting later.

"Zhang Zhiping was a dignified field officer who had performed great service in the Battle of Hengyang, yet Lu Qiao killed him just like that in front of so many people.

"The Chairman, Jianfeng, and Minister He didn't even say a word.

"This is just too..."

Li Ya gritted his teeth, too angry to continue.

"Well, he's a Nian Gengyao; who doesn't like someone who can fight?

"Besides, Zheng Jiemin just became the Vice Minister, and he is the Chairman's hand-picked favorite. Everyone knows that people like Boss Dai and Kang Ze, who fancy themselves the Chairman's shadows, are mostly viewed with suspicion.

"The only one truly trusted is Zheng Jiemin.

"He gets promoted almost every year.

"He wants to show his face, so no one can openly set a trap for him.

"Besides, it's normal to use strong medicine to fight corruption; people like Jianfeng are happy to see it.

"But Captain Li, don't take it too much to heart.

"We've barely started in Beiping. If Lu Qiao really manages to take down Ma Kui, he will naturally rise to fame.

"If he messes it up, Zhang Zhiping's death will become a massive boulder that could crush him to death.

"He was a field officer, after all.

"Let alone him, even a regional group commander would have to report to the Ministry of National Defense for approval; no one would dare to execute someone on their own.

"Never mind him, even a regional Group Army Commander has to submit a request for approval to the Ministry of National Defense; no one dares to execute someone on their own authority."

"Zhang Zhiping has people behind him too. Once Lu Qiao gets into trouble, those people will start their counterattack," Hong Zhiyou said to comfort Li Ya.

The people at the top are like that; they don't look at the process, only the results.

If you do well, you are a loyal official; even if you tear a hole in the sky, it's a trivial matter.

If you do poorly, even if you have the merit of saving the throne, you are just stinking dog excrement that can be discarded at any time.

Throughout history, it has always been this way.

The higher Lu Qiao jumps, the more miserably he will naturally fall.

"I won't let him show his face," Li Ya said, his cheeks taut and pale.

Hong Zhiyou chuckled inwardly... I won't let you show your face either.

"Next, we only have the move involving Ye Tianhua left. I wonder how things are going on Ma Kui's side?

"I hope he isn't afraid of being beaten and just gives it all up," Li Ya said with a frown and a deep voice.

"You don't understand Ma Kui.

"He would give up his life before his wealth. If Zheng Jiemin wants it, he can give it.

"But if he tries to rob him, let alone using torture, even if you wanted his head, he wouldn't hand it over," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

The Inspection Group office building.

Lu Qiao was eating a sesame seed cake with stewed offal.

"Team Leader Lu, how is it? The taste is not bad, right? It's an old brand in Beiping," Li Chuntang asked with a fawning expression.

Yesterday, Lu Qiao's gunshot had stunned the people in the Inspection Group.

Li Chuntang, who had always been very close to Zhang Zhiping, was so scared he didn't sleep all night, and he had bought breakfast early in the morning to suck up to Lu Qiao.

Lu Qiao, who had been enjoying his meal, instantly pulled a long face, put down his chopsticks, and said expressionlessly:

"Not great."

"Then, then I'll have someone get you another breakfast. The sugar fritters and the small bowl of beef are also quite good," Li Chuntang said hurriedly.

"I heard that you had a hand in letting Liang Yueshan go?" Lu Qiao said, wiping his mouth with a gauze towel.

Li Chuntang, who had always been extremely close to Zhang Zhiping, was so frightened that he didn't sleep a wink all night, and first thing in the morning, he bought breakfast to curry favor with Lu Qiaoshan.

"No, your subordinate definitely didn't participate.

"It was all Zhang Zhiping's decision; I didn't know anything about it," Li Chuntang said.

"I say you knew, so you knew," Lu Qiao's gaze through his thick lenses was exceptionally sinister.

"Team Leader Lu.

"I heard you have a house on Guilin Road in Jinhai.

"Your subordinate specifically entrusted someone to go there last night.

"I brought some local specialties for your housekeeper and paid a visit.

"I hope Team Leader Lu will look after me," Li Chuntang hurriedly leaned in close and whispered.

Lu Qiao had already known about this last night.

He had bought the house in Jinhai long ago; the reason he hadn't sold it and kept the housekeeper was that he was holding a grudge and intended to kill his way back sooner or later.

That Li Chuntang could find the right path showed he had some heart.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered eating this breakfast.

He was just being cheap.

It wasn't like he was Li Ya, who had to have this bowl of stewed offal.

He just wanted to give Li Chuntang a way out.

Li Chuntang hurriedly leaned in close and said in a low voice.

"How should I put it, you are also an old hand of the Second Bureau.

"Officer Zheng also thinks quite highly of you.

"We aren't outsiders."

Otherwise, he would not have eaten this breakfast.

He is just cheap.

It is not like he is Li Ya, who absolutely must have that bite of stewed offal.

Isn't it just wanting to give Li Chuntang a way to save face?

"Chuntang.

"How should I put it, you are also a veteran of the Second Bureau.

"Officer Zheng also thinks quite highly of you.

"We are not outsiders, after all."

"From now on, when you conduct yourself and do things, keep your eyes peeled and learn to distinguish what is light and what is heavy."

"Let this be the last time."

Lu Qiao pointed at him with a stern expression.

"Understood, understood."

"Your subordinate will certainly follow the lead of Team Leader Lu!" Li Chuntang said, bowing and scraping like a grandson.

"Liang Yueshan must still be interrogated by me."

"Urge the court; he must be sentenced to death. The sooner the better. I want him publicly executed before I leave."

"Besides, Ma Hansan just sitting on a small stool every day won't do."

"It is time to use something harsh on him."

Lu Qiao ordered.

"But he is, after all, a municipal official and a veteran of the Juntong Bureau. If we use torture without evidence, wouldn't that be..." Li Chuntang saw his gaze grow increasingly cold and dared not continue.

"It is precisely because you are afraid of this and that, that he, that man surnamed Ma, dares to be so unscrupulous."

"I even executed Zhang Zhiping, so what is one Ma Hansan to me?"

"Use torture."

"You must use torture."

"Only with torture will he, Ma Hansan, confess."

"If you don't use it on him, I will use it on you!"

Lu Qiao slapped the table, putting on the grand airs of a ruthless star.

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Your subordinate will go do it right away."

Li Chuntang was so scared he nodded repeatedly.

That evening.

Ma Hansan arrived in the alley in disguise.

After confirming there were no tails in the vicinity, he pushed open the door and entered the small residence.

Hong Zhiyou was already waiting.

"Brother, someone in the inspection team is afraid of offending me and leaked the news in advance. Tomorrow, Lu Qiao is going to use torture on me," Ma Hansan said, getting straight to the point.

"That is a good thing. Have you contacted Ye Tianhua on your end?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yes."

"As soon as this guy heard there were two truckloads of white sugar and military supplies, he agreed immediately."

"However, out of caution, I decided to follow your advice and only say that it is Mr. Ji from Jinhai who wants to sell them. After all, given my current situation, it is against common sense for me to still have the heart to do business."

Ma Hansan said.

"Mm, Mr. Ji has a background in the Boatmen's Guild and the reality of doing business with the Americans."

"Even if Ye Tianhua is suspicious and goes to investigate, there will be no problem."

Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.

"The trouble now is that Wang Puchen is an unknown variable."

"Without someone of high status to suppress this matter,"

"Lu Qiao can easily slack off and turn a major issue into a minor one."

Ma Hansan said worriedly.

"Let Li Ya go," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Is Li Ya capable?"

"He messed up the press conference last time. I have doubts about this person's craft."

Ma Hansan frowned and said.

Captain Li's craft is fine; he just happened to run into me... Hong Zhiyou smiled and said: "This is also a helpless move; we cannot pin all our hopes on Wang Puchen."

"But Li Ya's words lack weight."

"Moreover, he has long-standing grievances with Lu Qiao. Lu Qiao could completely use various excuses to counter-accuse him of framing and slandering."

"Hu Zongnan will certainly speak up for Ye Tianhua as well."

"Can Li Ya's one mouth out-argue the two mouths of Hu Zongnan and Lu Qiao?"

Ma Hansan sighed, still uneasy.

"That is why I told him that once he catches the person, he should hand them over to Wang Puchen immediately," Hong Zhiyou smiled and said.

"Can Wang Puchen step forward?" Ma Hansan said.

"The point is, Mao Renfeng also lacks money. Who wouldn't want to take a bite of your meat?" Hong Zhiyou said.

Because historically, it was Mao Renfeng who brought down old Ma and Qiao Jia.

"Fine."

"It can only be treating a dead horse as if it were alive."

"However, that smoker is too cautious. You had better not hold out any hope; make secondary preparations. Don't let me suffer a brutal beating for nothing."

After Ma Hansan finished speaking, he took his hat, pressed it onto his head, and left, filled with worry.

Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette and began to puff away.

Li Ya wants to dampen Lu Qiao's momentum, and even more so, he wants to show off in front of Jiang Jianfeng.

But clearly, he overlooked one point.

Pulling Hu Zongnan's people in can stop Lu Qiao and protect Ma Hansan, which is beneficial for stabilizing the current situation among all parties.

But once Hu Zongnan is enraged, it will likewise affect military morale.

Lu Qiao will certainly suffer for it.

Li Ya's little scheme, in the eyes of Jiang Jianfeng, is likely not very clever.

It would be fine if Hu Zongnan could win a battle in March.

If he suffers a defeat and starts looking for reasons, Li Ya might also find himself in a heap of trouble.

This is what Wu Jingzhong often says.

Politics is something one cannot touch.

If you know too much, you have ambition.

If you know too little, you cannot enter the circle.

Knowing neither too much nor too little is the most miserable.

That is purely being a stepping stone, inevitably being trampled to pieces by others.

And perhaps this is the reason the Station Master intentionally sent Li Ya to accompany him to Beiping.

For a half-baked person caught in the middle of the game, it is hard not to bring trouble upon oneself.

The next day.

Just as Ma Hansan arrived at the office, Li Chuntang brought people over.

"Director Ma, please trouble yourself to come with us," Li Chuntang said.

"I say, old Li, you've come several times in one day. Is your inspection team ever going to finish?"

"Haven't the things that needed to be explained already been explained clearly?"

"If you have evidence, you can prosecute me at the military court or go to the Ministry of National Defense's inspection department."

"Is there any point in asking over and over again?"

Ma Hansan stood with one hand behind his back and pointed, looking very annoyed.

"Director Ma."

"This is Team Leader Lu's intention."

"You know, Deputy Team Leader Zhang has already eaten a bullet; you wouldn't want me to be the next one, would you?"

"A new official applies three fires; please just cooperate a little."

"Don't make it difficult for me and the brothers below."

Li Chuntang pulled him aside and whispered.

"Chuntang, you are trying to force a confession through torture, aren't you?" Ma Hansan said in a low, cold voice.

"Don't say anything else, Director Ma. Go find the connection to Lady Zheng."

"She is waiting for you right here in Beiping."

Li Chuntang said.

"If I wanted to find her connection, I would have gone long ago."

"This is Beiping, not Jingling."

"Let's go."

"Let me see what kind of methods that man surnamed Lu has."

Ma Hansan deliberately put on the arrogant air of 'Lord Ma'.

Arriving at the interrogation room.

The one presiding over the trial was Li Chuntang.

Lu Qiaoshan sat in charge of the monitoring room.

He was not foolish enough to personally interrogate Ma Hansan.

If nothing came of the interrogation, it would not only be a loss of face, but also likely to invite disaster.

Whoever conducts the trial bears the responsibility.

In any case, he had never issued any written documents, and Li Chuntang had not made any recordings; if something really went wrong later, the one surnamed Li would take the blame, and it would have nothing to do with him.

"Ma Hansan, through our interrogation of Liang Yueshan, Zhou Zheng, and others, combined with the evidence, it is a fact that you have been reselling civilian and military supplies."

"These are their testimonies; take a look."

Li Chuntang stood up, took a stack of materials, and handed them to Ma Hansan.

Ma Hansan flipped through them quickly and sneered, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."

"None of the evidence you mentioned has anything to do with me."

"What, does my sitting in this position make people so jealous?"

"Or do you think I, Ma Hansan, am easy to bully!"

Saying this, he slapped the armrest of his chair and cursed loudly.

"It seems you won't confess unless we use some real measures."

"Apply torture."

Li Chuntang gave Ma Hansan an apologetic look and gave the order.

Someone immediately grabbed a whip and began lashing Ma Hansan.

This beating lasted for three days.

In between, apart from being given some water and thin porridge, and being subjected to electric shocks, basically every method available was used.

Ma Hansan was beaten into unconsciousness several times and even had two ribs broken.

Inside the office.

Lu Qiaoshan was rubbing his brow in distress.

He truly had not expected that a petty person like Ma Hansan, who loved money more than his own life, could hold out so well.

Over these three days, Ke Shufen had called him several times.

Her tone was impatient through and through.

If he didn't squeeze something out soon, Ma Hansan wouldn't be the one to fall; he would be crushed by Ke Shufen's pressure first.

The key was that this Ma Hansan was not only tough.

His methods were extremely covert, and he had even laundered his capital chains until they were spotless; even if there was some evidence, it couldn't be considered ironclad proof.

Moreover, after Li Zongren heard that Ma Hansan was being tortured, the Beiping Headquarters and the Gui Clique were also applying pressure.

Other military and political officials also expressed their dissatisfaction one after another, and letters reporting his abuse of private torture were flying toward Jingling like snowflakes.

No wonder Ke Shufen was so anxious.

She would call him a good-for-nothing at least a dozen times a day, making Lu Qiaoshan's mental state on the verge of collapse and explosion.

Li Ya was still stubbornly hanging around in Beiping.

This person was very dangerous.

There was no telling what kind of cold arrows he was plotting behind the scenes.

For a moment, Lu Qiaoshan felt like he was surrounded by thorns and didn't know where to start.

Damn Ma Hansan, why was it so hard to make him cough up some money?

"Section Chief Lu." Li Zhong walked in.

"Has Ma Hansan confessed?" Lu Qiaoshan asked urgently.

"No."

"He won't say a word, and now he won't even drink water."

"He says he wants to prove his innocence with his death."

Li Zhong shook his head and said.

"He's innocent, my foot; which of the common people in Beiping doesn't know that Ma Hansan is dripping with grease."

"Alright, I know."

"You may go."

Lu Qiaoshan cursed, feeling even more annoyed.

"Section Chief Lu, there is someone outside who wants to see you," Li Zhong said.

"I'm not seeing them."

"Just say I'm not here."

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand in annoyance.

For the past two days, everyone coming by was from the Beiping military and political circles looking to plead for mercy.

Chattering away, it was annoying.

"It's Secretary Hong from the Jinhai Station; he says he is your friend," Li Zhong said.

"Hong Zhiyou?" Lu Qiaoshan's eyes lit up.

He immediately clapped his hands:

"Indeed, how could I have forgotten this kid."

"Quick, quickly invite him in."

Lu Qiaoshan was overjoyed.

Soon, Hong Zhiyou walked in, cupping his hands with a polite expression: "Section Chief Lu, it has been a while since we parted in Jingling; I hope you have been well, Section Chief Lu."

"Look at you."

"What kind of relationship do we have? We are like brothers."

"Why call me Section Chief Lu? Call me Brother Shan."

Lu Qiaoshan looked displeased, pouting as if complaining that he was being distant.

"We are in the office, after all; it is more appropriate to address each other by our official titles," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

"Are you being a stranger?"

"The office is for other people; for you, isn't it just like being in your own home?"

Lu Qiaoshan rolled his eyes at him and said.

"Yes, Brother Shan."

"Hmm, full of righteousness and quite imposing."

"I must say, our Brother Shan really has the air of an imperial envoy."

Hong Zhiyou looked him up and down, flattering him with a smile.

"I heard about the execution of Zhang Zhiping."

"Brother Shan, you did well."

"When that shot rang out, it shook the earth."

Hong Zhiyou gave a thumbs up and continued to praise him.

"Heh, acting for the people and sharing the burdens of the Party, it's just part of the job," Lu Qiaoshan said, looking very pleased.

"How about that? I didn't lie to you, did I? I, Brother Shan, was bound to make a comeback sooner or later."

"The next stop is Jinhai."

Lu Qiaoshan crossed his legs and continued, waving his hand nonchalantly.

"I thought as much."

"That's why I came over to build a connection first, so that when you, my dear brother, arrive, you won't take a knife to my head," Hong Zhiyou said obsequiously.

"That won't happen."

"You are different from the others; we are brothers."

"However, there are some people in Jinhai who must be punished."

"Take Li Ya, for example; he actually dared to run to Beiping and openly challenge me. Given my temper, if it weren't for people holding me back and the presence of the press, I would have executed him on the spot."

"What could he do to me?"

"It's not that I, Brother Shan, am showing off, but there is no one in the Ping-Jin area that I cannot handle!"

Seeing an old friend, Lu Qiaoshan stopped feeling depressed and started bragging directly.

"That's true."

"What is Li Ya anyway? How could he compare to you, Brother Shan?"

"Alright, it seems you are doing very well for yourself, Brother."

"You are a busy man, so I won't disturb you further; we shall meet again in Jinhai another day."

Hong Zhiyou said a few polite words and stood up to leave.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Lu Qiaoshan hurriedly called him back:

"Don't be in such a rush to leave."

"Since you're already here, stay and chat with Brother Shan for a while longer."

"Brother Shan, do you have something on your mind?" Hong Zhiyou asked, feigning surprise.

"Actually, it doesn't really count as anything."

"It's all because this Ma Han has given me a headache."

"He was beaten for three whole days, his skin torn and flesh mangled, yet he wouldn't spit out a single word, dead or alive."

"He refuses to acknowledge a single word of all the evidence."

"Now many old-timers in the military and political circles are coming to plead for him, and I am holding the torch for General Zheng; if this fire goes out, I won't be able to answer for it when I return to Jingling."

"You and Ma Han have had dealings, didn't you bring his secretary back from Beiping for Boss Dai in the first place?"

"Give your brother a pointer on how to get a grip on him."

Lu Qiao stopped pretending, pulled Hong Zhiyou down to sit, and asked in a low voice.

"Brother Shan."

"It's actually not difficult to get a grip on Ma Han."

"Think about it, how did Boss Dai handle him back then?"

Hong Zhiyou raised his eyebrows and blinked, hinting at him.

Lu Qiao's eyes rounded, and he clapped his hands in great delight:

"I always say it has to be you, brother; one word has awakened the dreamer."

……

(End of chapter)